Agriculture

The fact that Tajikistan is 93% mountainous makes agriculture in the country challenging. The ADB is providing a grant to the country to look at boosting dairy production. Pic: ©iStock/aggey

ADB grant to help fund study on boosting dairy production in Tajikistan

By Jim Cornall

The Asian Development Bank (ADB) is providing a $500,000 technical assistance grant to prepare a feasibility study for a proposed project to improve food security in Tajikistan by boosting dairy production while making the industry more resilient to climate...

Farming returning to Mosul even as fighting continues to ravage city

Farming returning to Mosul even as fighting continues to ravage city

By RJ Whitehead

Thousands of the poorest residents of the war-torn region around Mosul, along with hundreds of thousands of other struggling Iraqis, are being given the chance to earn for themselves again thanks to a new project that is restoring irrigation to 250,000...

Kazakhstan has seen a steady rise in organic meat production this year

Kazakhstan eyes export of organic meat to Asia

By Vladislav Vorotnikov

Kazakhstan may become one of the largest organic meat exporters in Asia, establishing export supplies of up to 360,000 tonnes (t) of organic beef and lamb per year, primarily to China. 

Danish Crown called Asia a 'promising market' with strong potential for growth

Danish organic meat exports to Asia rising

By Poorna Rodrigo

Denmark’s organic meat exports to Asia, fuelled especially by sales to mainland China and Hong Kong, rose steadily in 2015 compared with the year before.

FAO opens Lebanon office to boost conflict-hit food supplies

FAO opens Lebanon office to boost conflict-hit food supplies

By RJ Whitehead

The director-general of the Food and Agriculture office of the United Nations has blamed conflicts in the Middle East for a doubling of undernourished people in the region as he visited a new regional office in Lebanon.

China dominates the global production of seaweed. ©iStock

Soaring seaweed demand raises environmental concerns for Asia

By Gary Scattergood

Asia’s booming seaweed industry – buoyed by demand for nutraceutical, pharmaceutical, and antimicrobial products – needs to avoid the ecological and societal pitfalls experienced in agriculture and fish farming, according to a UN university institute.

The Iranian government is working to maintain the pace of growth in the poultry and red meat industry

Iran looks to keep growth rate of meat industry

By Vladislav Vorotnikov

Over the past three years Iran has managed to increase production of table poultry and red meat by 20% to reach an overall figure of 820,000 tonnes (t) of red meat and 2.2 million t of poultry. 

©iStock/dolgachov

ICT making food safety advances possible - FAO

By staff reporter

Advances in information and communication technology (ICT) are leading to improvements in food security and safety in Asia and the Pacific, according to the UN’s Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO).

Animal welfare should not be given undue focus, suggested Dawson Bradford

Animal welfare is under the spotlight in Australia

By Oscar Rousseau

Australian meat companies could lose out in Asian markets if they focus too much on animal welfare, Dawson Bradford, president of the West Australian Pork Producers’ Association (WAPPA) has warned. 

Kiwi bee decline could cost economy up to NZ$728m a year

Kiwi bee decline could cost economy up to NZ$728m a year

By RJ Whitehead

New Zealand agriculture stands to lose between NZ$295m and NZ$728m (US$213m-525m) each year if the local honeybee population continues to decline, according to a study into the economic consequences of a decline in pollination rates. 

Japanese trio plan vegetable factory in Dubai

Japanese trio plan vegetable factory in Dubai

By RJ Whitehead

Japan’s Marubeni Corporation, Showa Denko K.K. and Chiyoda Corporation will jointly develop an overseas artificially-lit vegetable factory business with a base in the UAE that promises to harvest crops throughout the year.

Bright Dairy must rebuild reputation after three incidents in May

China direct

Bright Dairy must rebuild reputation after three incidents in May

By RJ Whitehead

Having been singled out three times in May alone by China’s food inspectors, Bright Dairy risks significant harm to its corporate image as consumers continue to doubt the safety and quality of dairy products made domestically, market analysts warn.

Dairy Australia is receiving government funding for nitrogen use efficiency research. Photo: iStock-fotokostic

Australian dairy industry gets nitrogen cash boost

By Jim Cornall

Australian dairy is one of four agricultural industries that will benefit from a government-funded Rural Research and Development for Profit project to improve the efficient use of nitrogen.

El Niño wreaks havoc on Philippines food production

El Niño wreaks havoc on Philippines food production

By RJ Whitehead

Dry and wet spells brought by El Niño and La Niña are threatening the Philippines’ food security, an official has warned a special government committee on food and climate change.

Study: Tropical ecosystems pay the price for underpriced agriculture

Dateline Southeast Asia

Study: Tropical ecosystems pay the price for underpriced agriculture

By RJ Whitehead

While international trade may generate economic benefits to agricultural exporters in the tropics, a groundbreaking study by National University of Singapore researchers reveals that benefits from trade cannot compensate for the loss of forests and ecosystems...

©iStock

DISPATCHES FROM FOOD VISION 2016

‘Demand-creation’ business model key to sustainability

By Will Chu

How to create a new high-value, sustainable business model for African ingredients? By focusing on demand-creation first, production second and engagement with communities, says the founder of baobab start-up Aduna. 

© iStock

Oman expands food production, looks to Iran

By Eliot Beer

Oman’s AATCO opens a new factory plant in Jeddah, as OFIC releases new details about its Dhofar dairy project, and the government considers investing in Iranian agriculture.

Kazakhstan's government is keen to explore export potential of beef

Largest halal beef farm to be built in Kazakhstan

By Vladislav Vorotnikov

Dubai-based company AMK Metal Fzco is to construct a livestock farm for 20,000 head of cattle and a meat processing plant for the production of 5,000 tonnes (t) of high-quality beef in Kazakhstan, following an agreement concluded between the company and...

IFAD funds poverty-reduction measures in Afghanistan, Bhutan

IFAD funds poverty-reduction measures in Afghanistan, Bhutan

By RJ Whitehead

The International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) will provide millions of dollars in funding to reduce rural poverty and increase the incomes of thousands of households and smallholder families in south Asia.

Chinese GMO firm could face off against Monsanto in US

Far East digest

Chinese GMO firm could face off against Monsanto in US

By RJ Whitehead

Origin Agritech is the latest Chinese agricultural biotechnology company to seek its fortunes overseas as a means to get round a local ban on genetically modified produce when it launches in America.

Environmental legislation to ensure NZ sheep and beef sectors' remains competitive

Environmental laws set to hit NZ livestock farmers

By Chloe Ryan

Increased environmental regulation will have a significant impact on New Zealand’s sheep and beef farmers as well as their dairy counterparts, according to new research by Rabobank.

The five-year plan allows for highly skilled farmers to operate large farms and improve productivity

Chinese five-year plan impacts on meat industry

By Chloe Ryan

China’s 13th five-year plan, published by the government in Beijing, has revealed policies that could have major benefits for meat and animal feed exporting nations around the world.

China needs improved cold chain to support surge in demand for produce

China direct

China needs improved cold chain to support surge in demand for produce

By RJ Whitehead

China's appetite for fruit and vegetables, dairy and meat is expected to increase by 17% between 2015 and 2025, Rabobank claims, though the country’s cold chain system will struggle to keep up with the demand if it is not sufficiently modernised. 

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